asked the Minister for Health if he has received any proposals from BUPA regarding the purchase of hospitals on the east coast of Ireland with a view to turning them into private health hospitals between now and 1992.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Private Health Hospitals.
13.
I have not received any such proposals to date.
Is the Minister prepared to give an assurance to the House that approaches have not been made to the health boards? Was he consulted about the matter? Will the Minister indicate whether he would entertain such proposals if they were made between now and 1992 so as to give the people on the east coast the health service that he is refusing to give them?
Like Deputy McGahon I know the east coast very well and I do not accept that there is not a good service there. In fact, there is an excellent service on the east coast. On the question of whether BUPA approached health boards I should like to tell the Deputy that I do not have that information. BUPA have not approached my Department for a licence.
Is it unreasonable of me to ask why, in view of the fact that my question has been with the Department for more than one month, the Minister or his Department have not consulted the health boards about this matter? Will the Minister indicate whether he will entertain such proposals if they are made between now and 1992?
As my Department are the agency which issue licences for such health insurance I would not consider it appropriate that we should contact other agencies who do not have that responsibility. If such a proposal was submitted to my Department it would be considered in the normal way.